Flight

Mar 3 2012

United States Air Force to Purchase 18,000 iPad 2′s

The United States Air Force has granted Apple, Inc. with a $9 Million USD contract to provide 18,000 iPad 2′s.   The iPad 2′s will be used by pilots and other pertinent staff in lieu of the normally carried heavy pilot bags and reams of flight maps.  The air force is getting quite the deal on the iPad 2′s with the price per unit being $520 USD per unit compared to the normal $599 USD.  They have contracted to receive the 32gb model of the iPad 2.

Source: Bloomberg

By admin • Apple Computing, Apple Inc., Flight, Government, iPad, Maps, Military, Software • 0 • Tags: , , , , ,

Jan 19 2012

Laminar Research releases new X-Plane 10 Promotional Video

Laminar Research, the producers of the X-Plane franchise of flight simulators, have released a new video highlighting their latest version of the product.  X-Plane 10 was recently released on the desktop for multiple platforms and they have been slowly implementing some of the new features into the latest mobile offerings as well.

The video is two minute fifteen seconds long. While we wanted more from the video, it did show brief glimpses of what Laminar Research is doing and the direction they are heading with the product line.

To view the video on the Fly Away Simulations website, go to:

http://flyawaysimulation.com/images/media/8916/x-plane-10-official-promotional-video/

By admin • Flight, Software • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Jan 11 2012

X-Plane for iPad updated to version 9.770

Laminar research has released an update for their X-Plane Application for the iPad.  Version 9.770 is a maintenance update which addresses several issues including:

  • Autopilot response improved… the plane should lock onto your current pitch and roll when autopilot power is dfirst applied. THEN you should be able to enter heading or altitude mode at your liesure.
  • If you are in a fighter, then the other plane should be a fighter as well.
  • RAM footprint is now lowered a bit, which will make crashes less likely if you have been running a bunch of other apps without restarting your device.

The iPad version of the X-Plane application is available from the Apple iTunes Store for $9.99 at:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/x-plane-for-ipad/id364163095?mt=8

By admin • Apps, Flight, Software • 0 • Tags: , , , ,

Mar 7 2011

FAA Approves iPad as paper map replacement

The FAA has approved the iPad as a replacement for paper maps in the cockpits of commercial aircraft.  Traditionally, airline pilots have carried reams of the maps of the airports they were flying into and out of, in a specialized flight suitcase.  Now they will really only need their iPad complete with the appropriate maps application such as the one from Jeppesen.

According to an article in Bloomberg (http://bloom.bg/fFwLkH), Delta Airlines is one of the major players in the push to get the iPad approved by regulators.  Obviously with flight computers being much heavier and bulkier, the iPad with its crystal clear screen and easy to use interface makes it the perfect lightweight candidate to replace all of the other items long used.

The only issue with using them in flight will be the obvious power requirements but airlines will likely set up charging stations within the cockpit for the pilots to charge their iPads and keep them flight ready.

By billm • Apple Inc., Apps, Flight, iPad, Maps, Software • 0 • Tags: , , , ,